A computational theory of hippocampal function, and empirical tests of the theory
Abstract
The main aim of the paper is to present an up-to-date computational theory of hippocampal function and the predictions it makes about the different subregions (dentate gyrus, CA3 and CA1), and to examine behavioral and electrophysiological data that address the functions of the hippocampus and particularly its subregions. Based on the computational proposal that the dentate gyrus produces sparse representations by competitive learning and via the mossy fiber pathway forces new representations on the CA3 during learning (encoding), it has been shown behaviorally that the dentate gyrus supports spatial pattern separation during learning. Based on the computational proposal that CA3-CA3 autoassociative networks are important for episodic memory, it has been shown behaviorally that the CA3 supports spatial rapid one-trial learning, learning of arbitrary associations where space is a component, pattern completion, spatial short-term memory, and sequence learning by associations formed between successive items. The concept that the CA1 recodes information from CA3 and sets up associatively learned backprojections to neocortex to allow subsequent retrieval of information to neocortex, is consistent with findings on consolidation. Behaviorally, the CA1 is implicated in processing temporal information as shown by investigations requiring temporal order pattern separation and associations across time; computationally this could involve temporal decay memory, and temporal sequence memor…
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CA3/CA4 hippocampal subfields are crucial for memory formation, particularly in spatial and episodic memory, and are part of an auto-associative network that supports pattern generalization and discrimination as well as short-term memory retrieval.
“The CA3/CA4 hippocampal subfields are crucial for memory formation, particularly in spatial and episodic memory, and are part of an auto‐associative network that supports pattern generalization and discrimination as well as short‐term memory retrieval. 40”
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- Authors
- Rolls, E. T., & Kesner, R. P.
- Affiliations
- University of Oxford (GB)
- University of Utah (US)
- Corresponding author
- Rolls, Edmund T.
- ORCID
- Rolls, Edmund T.
- Venue
- Progress in Neurobiology
- Publisher
- Elsevier BV
- Published
- 2006-05
- Volume
- 79
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 1-48
- ISSN
- 0301-0082 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2075949847
- Cited by
- 608
- References
- 12
- Citations by year
- 2026: 9 · 2025: 23 · 2024: 18 · 2023: 17 · 2022: 15 · 2021: 14 · 2020: 17 · 2019: 23 · 2018: 33 · 2017: 34 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 32 · 2014: 37 · 2013: 44 · 2012: 43
- FWCI
- 3.95
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Progress in Neurobiology (publishedVersion)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- Funders
- National Institute of Mental Health (R01MH065314)
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory and Neural Mechanisms
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cognitive Neuroscience › Memory Processes and Influences
- Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Neuroscience and Neuropharmacology Research
- Keywords
- hippocampal function, dentate gyrus, CA3, CA1, sparse representation, competitive learning, mossy fiber pathway, pattern separation, pattern completion, episodic memory, autoassociative networks, memory consolidation, temporal sequence memory, intermediate-term memory, perforant path, spatial learning, associative learning
- MeSH terms
- Animals, Hippocampus, Humans, Models, Neurological, Nerve Net, Computational Biology, Empirical Research
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